Container pouring spout



June 9, 193%. R, LORD i 2,U43,,253

CONTAINER POURING SPOUT Filed April 14, 1934 Patented June 9, 1936 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,043,253 CONTAINER POURING SPOUT Application April 14, 1934, Serial No. 720,636 2 Claims. (Cl. 221-11) The present invention relates'to pouring spout containers or cans and has for its object the improvement of spout construction so that a positive snap fit is had when the spout is closed on the can, this construction particularly adapting it for use in metal can ends.

Hinged metal pouring spouts having spreading side wings have been extensively used in salt cans and the like and are generally associated with fibre ends and in such cans the resiliency of the fibre edges surrounds the spout and satisfactorily holds the spout in closed position. When, however, an attempt is made to use such a spout in metal can ends where the edge resiliency referred to is lacking it has been found that the spout is not satisfactorily held and is not sufficiently tight when in closed position.

The present invention contemplates the use of an improved spout construction wherein the usual flaring wings of the spout are provided with additional frictional and snap engaging elements so that a tight closing fit'is had and also so that a spout is more positively controlled in: moving it in open pouring position and into its can closing position.

An object'oi the invention is the provision of a container or can having a metallic'end and a metallic pouring spout moving within a discharge opening in the end, the spout having side wings and snap elements for looking it in closed position on the can.

' Another object of' the invention is the provision of a pouring spout having side wings moving Within a discharge opening in a: can end, the

side wings having frictionelements engaging the edges of the discharge opening for tightly holding the spout in a partially open position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hinged spout having side wings which are reeniorced adjacent the pouring end of the spout, the reenforcing elements also providing for locking the spout in can closing position with its exterior or exposed surface closely fitting on the can end wall, provision being also made for easy opening when desired.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which,

50 taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper closed pouring spout end of a can embodying 55 the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the can and spout illustrated in' Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2 but showing the full width of the can;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the pouring spout open, the can in pouring position and the can contents being dispensed through the spout;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the can shown in 10 Fig. 2 with the pouring spout entirely removed;-

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pouring spout;

' Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-4 in Fig. 3; and 15 Fig. 8 is an under plan sectional view of the spout taken substantially along the line 8- -8 in Fig. 3.

In the drawing there is disclosed as a preferred embodiment of the present invention a can body 20 H which may be of fibre or other sheet material having a sheet metal top l2 clamped or otherwise secured in position on the end of the body in a seam iii; The can end [2 is formed with a discharge opening l5 which is preferably formed 25 with spaced parallel sides It and a straight end I! and an opposite end 18 formed with a shelflike projection Hi. This is a usual form of opening for spouts of the side wing type but is usually formed in a fibre end rather than in the metal 30 end l2 herein disclosed.

The pouring spout comprises a top 22 having an extending tab 23 at one end and having side walls" 25 which normally spread'as illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. The walls 25 are formed with cir- 35 cular edges, 26 in the usual manner and are also provided with lateral ears 21 and projecting lugs 28.

Such a spout when positioned within the end opening [5 is held against displacement by the 40 ears 2'! which are located under the top wall of the can end, the spout having a hinge action within the opening, the hinging taking place ad jacent these ears.

.When in spout pouring position (Fig. 4) the lugs 28 engage the can end wall and limit the open position of the spout, the outward spring action of the spout walls 25 frictionally holding the spout in open position. In closed position (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7) the exposed exterior wall 22 of the spout lays close on the can end with its extending tab 23 resting on top of the end wall and directly over a depression 33 formed therein. The hinged end of the wall 22 which is directly opposite rests upon the projection I9. 5

To insure a snap fit of the spout within the can end l2 embossed projections 34 are outwardly pressed from the spaced side walls 25 of the spout as best illustrated in Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8. These located adjacent the lip 23 and reenforcement for the wings 25 at this point. The end of each projection 34 which is adjacent the top wall 22 of the spout is spaced below the upper surface of a distance substantially equal to the thlckness of below the can end in a tight snap fit. Thisholds the spout in closed position and prevents sifting of the contents of the can.

When the spout is lifted into pouring position the fingernail engages under the lip 23 and within the depression 33 and action of the projections-34 being efiective as long as they'are in engagement with the can end after which the outside walls of the side wings frictionally engaging against the edge of the open ing I5 hold the spout as it is brought-into its fully opened and pouring position. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 6 the projection 34 is located on each failing-to spring sufliciently outwardly at this point. After the projection has completely cleared the walls of the opening, the increased area of the side walls 25 and their consequent increased tendency to spring or spread outwardly is sufiicient to frictionally engage the spout walls With the walls of the spout opening, thus obviating the necessity for the presence of the outward projection'34 during the concluding movements "of the spout to open position or its initial movement to closing position.

At times it may be desirable to 'only partially open'the spout to an intermediate position to restrict'the flow of the contents therefrom as when the container is used as a shaker for dispensing a limited and .restricted quantity of itscontents. In this partially open position, which-may be set for any degree of opening, the effective-frictional holding action of the projections 34 'keeps the spout in place.

Such 'a can with its spout adaptable to a restricteddispensing as has just 'been described has been 'found satisfactory for other materials than salt, powders or granulated substances such, for

example, as bird seed and the like where a controlled opening is particularly desirable.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts withing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. .A'gpouringspout container having a wall provided with a dispensing opening, and a pouring spout hingedly' mounted in said opening and movable to open and closed positions, said pourside wall members having the tendency to spring outwardly to frictionally engage the walls defining said-'openingwhen the spout is WILLIAM R. LORD. 

